Hernial truss and truss pad



April 1, 1941. A. J, FISH 2,236,752

HERNIAL TRUSS AND TRUSS PAD Filed Aug. 28, 1940 mum I M2 6 (11 3 71/, .5 W 71% Z k/44,12

Patented Apr. 1, 1941 ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to hernial trusses and truss pads.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective View representing the strap or belt of the truss and indicating in dotted lines the truss pad or pads supported in pockets thereof;

Fig. 2 is a detail in transverse section upon a larger scale, showing the pockets 'of the said strap or belt and indicating two truss pads supported therein, on the line 2-2 thereof;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are plan views showing the three parts of the truss pad removed from each other or disassembled;

Fig. 6 is a perspective veiw showing the parts of the pad assembled in one possible position 0 use; and

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are vertical central sections representing the entire pad with the three parts thereof adjusted to three other different positions I of use to suit different physical requirements.

The hernial truss herein disclosed and embodying the preferred form of my invention is one consisting of substantially a minimum of. parts, yet use thereof has demonstrated its effectiveness in severe cases of hernia. Its'construction, however, is such as to adapt it for use in mild cases of hernia or rupture, and indeed in all degrees of severity thereof. It is of so comparatively few parts that the wearing thereof is barely or not at all observable when only a bathing suit is worn and it can be worn entirely without discomfort.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to employ a truss pad loosely supported in a pocket of a belt to encircle the body and also that in the expired patent to McEwen and Young No. 1,023,435, April 16, 1912, there is disclosed. a truss pad having a central portion threaded thereinto for varying the extent of projection of such central portion. My invention, however, is clearly distinguished from such prior art in many respects, as will be evident from the ensuing description of the preferred embodiment of my invention.

I provide a suitable belt or strap 1, shown in Fig. 1 as adapted to encircle the-body about the abdominal portion thereof and being of any desired vertical extent, and which is provided with lacing 2 or other suitable means for holding the same in place and tightening it to the desired extent about the body. The said belt or strap may be of any suitable material, but is preferably of a firmly or strongly woven or knitted structure which may have rubber stranids incorporated therein in the manufacture thereof, so as to render it suitably elastic and permitting free movements of the body. The said material is preferably one having a two-way stretch--that is, both circumferentially of and lengthwise of the body when worn. The said strap or belt I may be of any usual character excepting that it is provided with one, and preferably with two pockets 3, 4, upon its inner face, each being of sufiicient size to receive the truss pad to which my invention is more particularly directed. While but a single pocket, as 3, might be provided, I preferably provide two pockets 3, 4, as shown, the'longitudinal or vertical walls whereof are sewed or otherwise secured to the body I of the belt, as indicated at 5, 6 and 'l. Preferably the position of the two pockets 3, 4 is symmetrical with respect to a median front line 8 of the belt I, as indicated in. Fig. 1.

The trussv pad'itself may be made in different sizes, as, for example, in very small sizes for infants, among whom reliable statistics show there is a very large percentage of hernia, or the pad may be made in several larger sizes so as to accommodate different sizes of people.

The truss pad may be formed of any suitable material, but much personal trial by me has shown the unsuitablility of aluminum and certain other metals. While my invention is not limited to any particular material, I preferably form the same ofplastic material that is relatively light and readily washed, and yet is strong and is unyielding, since the adjustments, of which the truss pad is capable, provide for all needs, as will be evident from the disclosure of this embodiment of my invention.

In its preferred structure the truss pad is composed of three parts indicated generally at 9, H], II in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 respectively. In said figures the several parts are shown separated from each other or disassembled, but in Fig. 6

they are shown assembled with the middle or intermediate part and the central or innermost pad part both projecting from the immediately supporting'part of the truss pad. Such condition of the parts is there indicated mainly for the purpose of explaining the structure, though showing a possible position of adjustment for use. The three views Figs. '7, 8 and 9 indicate three other or different adjustments or adaptations of the truss pad to suit three different physical conditions.

Referring more in detail to the structure of the pad, the basal ring 9 thereof, shown in Figs. 3 and 6 to 9, is flat or plane at one face l2 thereof, as indicated in Figs. '7, 8 and 9. As the pad is positioned in the pocket 3 or 4, the preferably flat or plane face l2 thereof is outward-that is, it contacts with the inner face of the main substance of the belt or strap I. It is not imperative, therefore, that the said face l2 be perfectly fiat, but this is the preferred construction, not only because it prevents wear upon the belt but because there is no necessity for attaching the pad itself to the strap or belt I as in other structures in the prior art.

The opposite face l3 of the basal ring 9 is tapered or oblique, being preferably somewhat curved or rounded in a direction from the extreme edge or perimeter l3a of the ring inward to the axis of the entire structure. The surface i3 is smooth and the radial extent of the surface If: (that is, the width of the ring 9) may be varied as desired. The inner wall [4 of the ring 9 is threaded as clearly shown in Figs. 3, '7, 8 and 9. The thread preferably extends throughout the height or axial extent of the wall I4 as indicated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Received within the basal ring 9 is the middle or intermediate ring H] which is threaded at both its outer and inner vertical Walls, as clearly indicated at I5, It, for the purpose of screwing the said middle ring Ill into the basal ring 9 either completely (as shown in Fig. '7) or only partially (as shown in Fig. 8), the inner wall of said middle ring being threaded so as itself to receive the central pad portion II, which is itself provided with a threaded outer wall I! throughout its lengthwise extent.

While I have indicated the middle ring H] as provided with two diametrically opposite holes or sockets l8, l8, and the inner pad member or portion II as provided with two diametrically opposite holes or sockets l9 and a central hole or socket 20, these are provided merely for convenience of manufacture and do not perform any other function--that is to say, all three of the said rings might, so far as the use of the pad is concerned, have unbroken basal surfaces.

The shape of the surface 2! of the middle ring and of the surface 22 of the inner pad is preferably a continuation of the tapering or curved surface of the outer or basal ring 9, being here shown as rounded or domed.

While it is not essential, the outer wall of the inner pad member or portion H and the outer wall of the middle ring 13 are both threaded in the same direction, so that in adjusting the parts of the pad they are turned in the same direction to project either one or both thereof with respect to the basal ring 9 and are both turned in the opposite direction to retract them or either of them.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are shown three different adjustments of the parts of the truss for use. The condition of parts shown in Fig. '7 is that where the rupture or hernia is of large extent, so that it is necessary to have the entire surface of the pad bear smoothly and evenly against the body with even pressure. In this position of the parts the entire tapering surface of all three parts of the pad are brought to bear against the body evenly. The adjustment shown in Fig. 8 is one where the hernia or rupture is of less extent and it is needed only to have the middle ring or section I0 and the inner pad member or portion ll press smoothly against the body.

The third illustrated position of the parts is that shown in Fig. 9, where the inner pad member or portion ll only is projected. This would be the adjusted condition of the pad when the hernia or rupture is of the least extent or where it is desired to have the greatest pressure applied at a comparatively small area. Of course, the middle ring I0 and the inner pad member or portion ll may each be projected to the extent required by circumstances.

It will be observed that the three parts 9, H], II. at their pressure faces are similarly curved, so that they may be axially adjusted upon each other by reason of their screw threads to present an unbroken curved pressure surface and at the same time an unbroken basal surface, and that any of said parts can be projected at its basal face below the bases of said other parts to depress the pressure face of such part, or whereby an unbroken flat basal face may be presented by all of said parts. The wholly fiat basal surface, of course, presents the least protuberance to the overlying clothing, and makes the disk only slightly noticeable or entirely unnoticeable, and the further forcing of a part of the pressure face against the flesh actually provides further depressions on the basal face into which the overlying part of the clothing may sink or settle.

It will be observed that no springs are employed nor any parts that would rust or corrode or otherwise become impaired in use. The entire structure is simple and light, but extended use thereof has shown that its efficiency is such as to meet all requirements pertaining to such bodily conditions. There are no edges or parts that will chafe the body and the pad can be worn with the very minimum of discomfort and indeed without any discomfort whatsoever.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims,

I claim:

1. An unattached hernial truss pad adapted to be received as an unattached entity in the pocket of a body-encircling belt or strap to be held thereby against the body, said pad being of disk-like form, and relatively thin in comparison with its diameter, said pad being entirely composed of three axially adjustable parts. namely, an outer ring-like part, an intermediate ringlike part, and a central pad part, each of said parts having a fiat basal face, and an opposite smooth pressure face, the inner wall of said outer part, the outer and inner walls of said intermediate part and the outer wall of said pad part all being threaded throughout their lengthwise extent for axial adjustment with respect to each other, and each such threaded wall of said parts being truly cylindrical, so that any of said three parts may at either of its faces be projected beyond the other said parts.

2. An unattached hernial truss pad adapted to be received as an unattached entity in the pocket of a body-encircling belt or strap to be held thereby against the body, said pad being of disk-like form, and relatively thin in comparison with its diameter, said pad being entirely composed of three axially adjustable parts, namely, an outer ring-like part, an intermediate ring-like part, and a central pad part, each of said parts having a flat basal face, and an opposite smooth pressure face, the inner wall of said curved, so that they may be axially adjusted l0 upon each other by reason of their screw threads, to present an unbroken curved pressure surface, and at the same time an unbroken basal surface, and whereby any of said parts can be projected at its basal face below the bases of said outer parts to depress the pressure face of such part, or whereby an unbroken flat basal face may be presented by all of said parts,

ANDREW J. FISH. 

